A certified copy is a document that has been certified as a true copy of an original document.
To certify a document, take the original document and a photocopy to one of the people listed in the categories below and ask them to certify that the photocopy is a true and correct copy of the original document. That person will need to print their name, date and the capacity in which they are signing (e.g. postal agent, Justice of the Peace). Sample wording is provided below.
I, [full name], as [category of persons as listed below], certify that this [name of document] is a true and correct copy of the original [signature and date].
A person who, under a law in force in a State or Territory, is currently licensed or registered to practise in one of the following occupations:
Chiropractor
Dentist
Legal practitioner
Medical practitioner
Nurse
Optometrist
Patent attorney
Pharmacist
Physiotherapist
Psychologist
Trade marks attorney
Veterinary surgeon
A person who is enrolled on the roll of the Supreme Court of a State or Territory, or the High Court of Australia, as a legal practitioner (however described)
Agent of the Australian Postal Corporation who is in charge of an office supplying postal services to the public
Australian Consular Officer or Australian Diplomatic Officer (within the meaning of the Consular Fees Act 1955)
Bailiff
Bank officer with 2 or more continuous years of service
Building society officer with 2 or more years of continuous service
Chief executive officer of a Commonwealth court
Clerk of a court
Commissioner for Affidavits
Commissioner for Declarations
Credit union officer with 2 more years of continuous service
Employee of the Australian Trade and Investment Commission who is:
in a country or place outside of Australia; and
authorised under paragraph 3(d) of the Consular Fees Act 1955; and
exercising his or her function at that place
Employee of the Commonwealth who is:
in a country or place outside Australia; and
authorised under paragraph 3(c) of the Consular Fees Act 1955; and
exercising his or her function in that place
Fellow of the National Tax Accountants’ Association
Finance company officer with 2 or more years of continuous service
Holder of a statutory office not specified elsewhere in this table
Judge of a court
Justice of the Peace
Magistrate
Marriage celebrant registered under Subdivision C of Division 1 of Part IV of the Marriage Act 1961
Master of a court
Member of Chartered Secretaries Australia
Member of Engineers Australia, other than at the grade of student
Member of the Association of Taxation and Management Accountants
Member of the Australian Defence Force who is:
an officer; or
a non-commissioned officer within the meaning of the Defence Force Discipline Act
1982 with 2 or more years of continuous service; or
a warrant officer within the meaning of that Act
Member of:
the Parliament of the Commonwealth; or
the Parliament of a State; or
a Territory legislature; or
a local government authority of a State or Territory
Permanent employee of:
the Commonwealth or a Commonwealth authority; or
a State or Territory or a State or Territory authority; or
a local government authority
with 2 or more years of continuous service and is a person not already specified elsewhere in this table
Senior Executive Service employee of:
the Commonwealth or a Commonwealth authority; or
a State or Territory or a State or Territory authority
Sherriff
Sherriff’s officer
Teacher employed on a full-time basis at a school or tertiary education institution
Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy
An officer with, or authorised representative of, a holder of an Australian financial services licence, having 2 or more years of continuous service with one or more licensees
An officer with, or a credit representative of, a holder of an Australian credit licence, having 2 or more years of continuous service with one or more licensees
A legal practitioner who holds a current practicing certificate under a law in force in a State or Territory in Australia
An officer of an Australian bank, building society or finance company branch or office located in a foreign jurisdiction with 2 or more years of continuous service
Australian Consular Officer or Australian Diplomatic Officer (within the meaning of the Consular Fees Act 1955)
Employee of the Australian Trade and Investment Commission who is:
in a country or place outside of Australia; and
authorised under paragraph 3(d) of the Consular Fees Act 1955; and
exercising his or her function at that place
Employee of the Commonwealth who is:
in a country or place outside Australia; and
authorised under paragraph 3(c) of the Consular Fees Act 1955; and
exercising his or her function in that place
Judge of a court
Magistrate
Registrar, or Deputy Registrar, of a court
A person authorised as a notary public in a foreign jurisdiction
Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants or the Institute of Public Accountants
A person who is authorised by law in the relevant jurisdiction to administer oaths or affirmations or to authenticate documents.